Chapter Seventeen: Mather
*This is a photo companion to my book, Crunch: A Million Snowy Steps Along the Pacific Crest Trail, available on Amazon here.
May 25, 2017
South Fork of the Kings River
Amped at Mather Pass.
Heading down from Mather Pass.
June 2016 - Looking north toward Palisade Lakes.
May 2017 - Looking north toward Palisade Lakes.
Palisade Lakes. Easy on the eyes, amirite?
Late spring avalanches alongside Palisade Lakes.
Looking back at Palisades Lake Basin.
Amped walking across the Palisade Lakes Highway.
Bizarre, deep cracks wound through the surface of the lakes.
Headed toward the Golden Staircase with Palisade Creek somewhere underfoot...
June 2016 - Looking down-canyon from the Golden Staircase.
May 2017 - Looking down-canyon from the Golden Staircase.
Amped strolling below the Golden Staircase. He's directly above Palisade Creek in this photo.
*Note: This video doesn't demonstrate the right way to self-arrest. But to be fair, Amped wasn't using the ice axe in an emergency arrest, just as a tool to add some drag to check his speed while glissading on a safe slope. Check YouTube for some good self-arresting videos.*
Many waterfalls cascading down the canyon walls, the water disappearing under the snow.
Dry trail! I could kiss you!
Swimming down the trail.
I've definitely hiked down more obvious trails...
Doing some sorely-needed laundry in the warm afternoon.
A third tent!